Boat purchase

I have done that trip a few times in three different boats of about the same size though none were thirty years old. I don't see age as a limiting factor provided you can establish that the boat is in good condition, particularly all the mechanical parts. Also that you are able to give it a decent proving run beforehand.

Obviously the weather and sea conditions are much more likely to be a limiting factor, particularly if you want to move the boat in winter. This could well make time a limiting factor as you will need several days and re fuelling stops for that passage. Having said that it is a wonderful trip if you have the time. Ideally I would wait for better weather and longer days in the Spring.

Here is a possible list of stopovers.

Falmouth
Padstow
Milford Haven
Holyhead ( a long passage of over 100 miles but can be avoided by crossing to Arklow and continuing up the Irish east coast)
Douglas (or Port Erin)
Bangor (Northern Ireland)
Clyde.

There are a few interim stops you can make if you want to shorten the individual legs.

I think it would be a great shame to miss the challenge and enjoyment of such a trip unless you have bought the boat for "trips round the bay in the skylark."

Whatever you decide I hope you get much enjoyment from your new craft.
 
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East Cardinal said:
Agree BruceK.
I was assuming Marty87 was happy to sail the boat since he was asking about option of sail or transport by road.

BruceK, our of interest what type of boat do you have?
I have just acquired a 20ft RIB and look forward to getting back to sea next year. Maybe even get to Conwy:encouragement:
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Lots of really good places around Anglesey / out of Conwy for a RIB. You may find it's all you really need if you are happy just day tripping. My boat is an old 1992 Thunderbird Formula F 34 PC. But it's taken me 3 years to get her to be where I want her to be and I'm still spending non cruising time fettling on her in a constant stream of maintenance upgrades. I got her cheap with two folders full of the previous owners receipts for works totalling a truly staggering amount. Thought I'd landed with my bum in the butter but have added a 3rd folder myself. Old boats. You cant buy them cheap, alas, in the end they cost the same.

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Marty87 said:
Good afternoon

I am in the process of buying a princess 415 1987 it has twin Volvo Penta 61a (306 hp) on 4 blade props I have two options sail it from Plymouth to inveclyde in scotland or use transport so my question is what would I expect for fuel cost to sail and what would transport cost expected to be.

Regards
Marty
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Sailing it would certainly be an "adventure" to say the least, but, as alluded to above, I would be risk assessing the probability of the boat making that journey with minimal mechanical issues, but equally importantly my own ability to tackle that passage. That said, her current location may actually mean she has done a few long passages across the Channel anyway, and she could well take it all in her stride.

If you are fully crewed, would they have the same amount if time available to them to undertake such a journey should you have to make some impromptu weather stops ?

Assuming you did it in a straight line, I am not sure there are many safe havens in the Bristol Channel, and whilst I am not an expert in that area, I am guessing commercial traffic will be quite heavy and add to the challenge.

Personally I would look at road transport, but if you did sail it, and you arrived safe and sound on [passage] plan and on budget you would wonder what all the fuss was about, but if you were holed up for weather or mechanical reasons in the 4rse end of nowhere trying to get a cab at 04.00 in the morning to the local train station, you may have different thoughts.

Good luck with whatever you decide, and I am sure the collective will want to see plenty of pictures of her being transferred.
 
Although IDAMAY appears to agree with me in most part I guess what I am trying to say is you cannot prove a 30 year old boat beforehand very easily. What you do do is get to know a 30 year old boat intimately. But that takes time and cannot be proven on a sea trial. A sea trial will only tell you as much of the boat as is in it's present condition. A stupid thing like a uplift pump or raw water pump on it's last legs, penny cost items, can just ruin your whole day and worse. Doing a full service and maintenance schedule before leaving you'd think would alleviate that kind of problem but I dont believe it does with the best will in the world. Confidence in an old boat is earned through time and not in a rush for adventure.
 
East Cardinal said:
Really not much point in buying a boat if it can't go to sea!
Assuming the pre purchase survey is fine and service spares and tools are carried, a sea trip should be ok. A good shakedown before setting off would reveal any major snags.
I think the buyer would be missing out on a fantastic experience if the opportunity to sail the boat is missed.

If you bought a car and didn't think it could manage the drive home so had to be transported, wouldn't you think that was odd?
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Like what you say and your thought process
Oh! PM'd you
 
East Cardinal said:
If you bought a car and didn't think it could manage the drive home so had to be transported, wouldn't you think that was odd?
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if your old car decides that things are all a bit much at 15.00 hours, quits and its getting dark ,you can just push it into handy laybye and walk to he nearest taxi office/ bus/railway station and arrange for its collection at some point.
When your old boat does the same, you are still there at 01.00,its now wind against tide perhaps you may possibly not be quite so sanguine :)
 
BruceK said:
Although IDAMAY appears to agree with me in most part I guess what I am trying to say is you cannot prove a 30 year old boat beforehand very easily. What you do do is get to know a 30 year old boat intimately. But that takes time and cannot be proven on a sea trial. A sea trial will only tell you as much of the boat as is in it's present condition. A stupid thing like a uplift pump or raw water pump on it's last legs, penny cost items, can just ruin your whole day and worse. Doing a full service and maintenance schedule before leaving you'd think would alleviate that kind of problem but I dont believe it does with the best will in the world. Confidence in an old boat is earned through time and not in a rush for adventure.
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Defo :encouragement:
 
OK
Maybe all boats should be fitted with wheels and we could tow them to our destination with the car. :cool:
It’s not my boat, so I won’t be making the decision. If it was I would make sure it was seaworthy and capable of the trip.
Then I would get a suitable crew including an engineer and sail it to Scotland.
 
Suitable engineer? Now I know it's all blue skies and rainbows. They are thin on the ground and should you find one prepared to do such a trip, their hourly rate most deservedly earned while actually fixing something will haemorrhage you a kidney for you to have one full time on a trip such as the OPs. Your best bet would be to take an old sea hand like Kwakers with before he loses his last marble. He'd at least be able to tell you what's naive, practical or outrageous and keep you entertained when stuck in port with stories about the 1950s when real men roamed Britannia on Brit Iron before Jap bikes made us all soft. :p Mind you his booze and entertainment bill may not be far off a full fledged engineer's!
 
BruceK said:
If Norton made boats my Harbour Master would take a very dim approach to the oil slick in his private water. He gets a bit sore when his blue flags are taken away and he doesn't get his bonus.
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Tell him not worry. It won’t run long enough to make much mess and you can spot the owner.......he’ll have a magnet on a line trying to recover bits of the engine from the sea bed.

Not a proper bike if you come back with the same number of parts you started with :):):)
 
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